Police ID 2 killed in separate crashes on I-15


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LEHI — Two people died and two more were injured in separate overnight crashes on I-15.

One person was killed and another injured in an early morning accident, and police were unsure Thursday if a third person was also involved.

About 1:20 a.m., a Nissan Altima traveling south on I-15 had just gone over the Point of the Mountain into Utah County, said Utah Highway Patrol Sgt. Todd Royce. The vehicle was crossing several lanes and the motorist was "driving erratically," he said.

As the vehicle was swerving, the driver clipped a semitrailer that was parked on the right side shoulder and then rolled, Royce said.

Orem resident Chancey Merrick, 21, was ejected from the vehicle and killed, he said. A second person suffered serious injuries that are not life-threatening. There were also reports of a third person at the scene, but emergency crews were unable to find anyone. Royce said investigators were still looking Thursday at whether a third person walked away from the crash scene or if there were only two people in the vehicle.

Due to the driving patterns prior to the accident, Royce said investigators were also looking into whether the driver was impaired.

Shortly before that accident, 19-year-old Natalie Holt from Park City was killed in an accident on I-15 between Cedar City and St. George, at mile post 36.

Sgt. Todd Royce of UHP said investigators believe the Holt may have been speeding and tried to avoid hitting a deer when the crash occurred.

Witnesses told UHP the teen's BMW swerved into the median and cable barrier, crossed into on-coming traffic, then rolled down a rock embankment. It eventually landed on the roof.

Holt, who was not wearing a seatbelt, died on scene. Her mother, 56-year-old Audrey Matthews, who was a passenger, was wearing her seatbelt. She was taken to Dixie Regional Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries.

More information will be posted as it becomes available.

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